‘Smooth’ Brown to Face Cardinals Sunday

Kevin Brown exceeded the expectations of the Dodgers in pitching five scoreless innings Tuesday in his first start since July 15. The right-hander provided a boost for his teammates with the strong performance in a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies, inspiring confidence down the stretch in the National League West and wild-card races.

Brown is scheduled to test the still-torn muscle in his pitching elbow Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium after a good bullpen session Friday, and pitching coach Jim Colborn expects another effective outing from the club’s top starter.

“He was real good,” Colborn said of Brown’s bullpen work. “I liked his delivery. It was smooth and powerful. It looked like all the parts were working.”

Brown was removed after 68 pitches against the Rockies, and Colborn said he would be limited to about 90 pitches against the Cardinals.

Although Brown did not maintain his typical velocity throughout the game, Colborn is not concerned about the slight drop-off. Brown was sidelined for six weeks, so it figured his arm would not be as strong. But his pitches, for the most part, were sharp, and Colborn said Brown has not experienced much discomfort in his elbow this week.

But Brown’s elbow stiffness is still a concern for the Dodgers, who owe him $60 million after this season. “It will continue to be an issue until there’s absolutely no pain or stiffness after he throws,” Colborn said. “It’s a lot better than it was [earlier in the week]. That muscle hasn’t been used.”

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Some in the organization are convinced that struggling first baseman Eric Karros has not revealed the extent of his back pain.

They believe that the pain is the main reason he’s having his worst season statistically, although Karros has not used that as an excuse.

“I’m fine,” Karros said. “It’s not an issue.”

Karros acknowledged that his back was a problem earlier in the season, but he says he’s fine now and simply having an off year.

“I honestly believe that E.K. is going to step up down the stretch,” pitcher Matt Herges said. “I know he’s had a tough year, but he’s a guy who has always been there when it counted. He’s been doing it his whole career, and I think he will again.”

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Apparently, Herges needed a break.

The overworked setup man is emerging from a second-half slump in part because Manager Jim Tracy has not used him as much as he did before the All-Star break. Herges had worked 42/3 scoreless innings in his last five appearances before giving up a run Friday.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

TERRY ADAMS

(10-6, 4.65 ERA)

vs.

CARDINALS’

DUSTIN HERMANSON (12-10, 4.44 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV: Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio: KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update: Adams is coming off his best start in Monday’s 4-2 victory against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. With four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux as his Atlanta counterpart, Adams pitched seven strong innings and earned the win. He gave up eight hits, two runs and had eight strikeouts. “I think I’ve had other good starts, but he [Maddux] was the biggest guy I had ever gone up against,” Adams said. “From that standpoint, yeah, it probably was my best one.”